The Heart Center

World-Renowned Experts Caring for Patients of All Ages With Congenital Heart Disease

Expertise. Compassion. Research.

The Heart Center

The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital has expertise, compassion and the most advanced technologies. As the leader in pediatric care, we offer cardiology services, cardiothoracic surgery, and everything else you would expect to find at a nationally-renowned heart center. Pediatric and adult patients with all forms of congenital heart disease and acquired cardiomyopathy have access to world-class diagnostic, treatment and research facilities. And all locations are staffed by pediatric experts who provide patients and their families with innovation and advancements not found elsewhere.

Whether your child is newly diagnosed, or you have been living with a congenital heart condition for many years, our pediatric experts offer specialized patient care and support for the entire family.

The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Under Co-Directors Timothy Feltes, MD, FACC, and Mark Galantowicz, MD, FACS, The Heart Center consolidates all cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery services into a comprehensive model for family-centered care and convenience. One, comprehensive location for care, education and research. We are prepared to treat patients from 0 to 100 years of age with experts in all areas of surgical and medical subspecialties.

Meet Our Team

Meet Our Co-Directors

Timothy F. Feltes, MD, FACC, is Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Intensivist and Co-Director of The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He is also Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Mark Galantowicz, MD, is the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Co-Director of The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Dr. Galantowicz is also a Professor of Surgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and is the recipient of the Murray D. Lincoln Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Our Programs

One of the first centers to receive a five-year accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association, our program includes six ACHD board-certified cardiologists. Our team offers everything an adult congenital heart patient needs, including pregnancy planning, catheterizations and surgery.

We treat patients with congenital heart disease with the simplest to the most complex procedures. Our program and outcomes are held to the highest standards. We participate in several national databases and registries as well as advisory panels.

When you learn your unborn child has a heart defect, the fetal cardiac team is here to help. From education to building comprehensive treatment plans, monitoring and fetal interventions, we work together to ensure the best possible outcome for your baby.

We treat patients with heart failure including medical management and mechanical assist devices as a bridge to transplant. We work with patients and families to plan treatment that provides the best possible quality of life.

Quality Counts: See Our Surgical Outcomes

Our program is actively involved in quality assurance and improvement on a national, state, and local level. Nationally, we participate in several databases (STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database, NACHRI, UNOS) from which we receive annual reports that are reviewed for areas of improvement. Additionally, we participate in the Optum Health’s Centers of Excellence advisory panel for congenital heart surgery where issues of value (outcomes/cost) are reviewed and incorporated into our quality improvement programs. The Cardiothoracic Surgical program is also part of a statewide database and participates on the Cardiac Standards Subcommittee of the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps.

At Nationwide Children's, we believe in making information about our program openly available so families can make the most informed choice possible about where to get care.

Clinic Locations

The Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s offers outpatient cardiology services at its main campus, Close To Home Centers and at 15 clinics throughout the Ohio region. Each location is staffed with a renowned Heart Center physician, registered nurse, cardiology technician, pediatric cardiac sonographer, medical students, residents in training and pediatric cardiology fellows in training which allows us to extend world-class services to patients regardless of where they receive care.

Our Patients: The Heart of What We Do

We realize that emotional support is every bit as important as medical treatment. That’s why we want you to meet some of our patients and their families. Like you, they are dealing with the daily challenges of living with a heart condition.

When Kyle’s mom took him to his pediatrician, they were referred to Nationwide Children's in Dublin for a repeat EKG. That’s when they met Dr. Naomi Kertesz, Director of Electrophysiology and Pacing at The Heart Center, and learned that Kyle had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome.

When Gracie was 2-years-old, her family was told there was nothing that could be done for her and that they should take her home, love her and just keep her comfortable. Her family refused to take that as an answer.

At my 2 year check up my family doctor noticed a murmur. He then sent me to Children's Hospital for further testing. I was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome. My condition effects all the connective tissue in my body.

Your child and family deserve meals that are nutritious and appealing, and that's what we provide at Nationwide Children's Hospital. We offer several options, including hotel-style room service, a cafeteria, food court, two coffee shops and other choices.

From toys and cards to make a child smile to everyday items that help a parent feel more at home, everything matters during your stay at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Within the main hospital, we have two gift shops to meet the needs of our patients, their families, friends and visitors.